What would you do for just an extra 600 square feet of living space if you could have it?
There’s many way of renovating your two-car garage. Whether you’re adding a spare bedroom, a playroom for your kids, a master suite, or even a gym, home office, “man cave,” or a media center, using your extra garage space is often a way to make a dream come true for guests or family members.
You can easily use the roof, walls, foundation, and other existing structures to manage your renovation costs by a substantial margin. In some cases you can save up to as much as half of what you would have paid otherwise.
Budgetary constraints
A good rule of thumb for converting a garage space into a bedroom is anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000. If you want to have an en-suite bathroom as well, you can expect to spend another $15,000 as well.
This is of course much more affordable than a new addition to your home. However, just because you’re already saving money doesn’t mean you should scrimp on other areas of the renovation such as your timetable, your contractor hiring, or your overall budget.
Your timeline
It’s going to take anywhere between four and six weeks to complete a professionally done conversion. Make sure your contractor walks you through the process of obtaining a permit, as a garage remodel can sometimes have requirements that differ from other additions or remodel projects.
Necessary preparations
While you’re most certainly going to incorporate the existing structures of your garage into your plans, it’s a certainty that you’ll need to both prepare and raise the floor of your conversion. Ensure that the original concrete is intact by filling in any cracks, take pains to clean up any spills from the past, and don’t neglect to seal the floor with a quality moisture barrier.
Doing all this will provide you with that all-important blank slate for your new conversion. All you need to do now is to stick to your budget and your preferences by selecting hardwood, carpeting, tile, or any other flooring material you wish.
The plumbing problem
One of the more complex aspects of your garage remodel is going to be any plumbing system. It doesn’t matter if you’re just fitting a half bath in your new living space or you’re going with a spa-style washroom, you’ll need to address your plumbing needs before any other major construction or renovation begins. If you’re going to add a wet bar, for example, now is the time to plan it out!
Walling it up
You can save lots of time and money by using your existing walls instead of having to frame out the room. However, you will need to ensure that you’re well-insulated and that you use drywall to panel these walls.
If you have cinder block garage walls, you won’t be able to do this without also adding stud framing before inserting any insulation. If you’re planning on including any closets in your remodel, now is the time to build them out.
Running electricity
Even if you’re an experienced do-it-yourselfer, it’s always a better idea to get a professional electrician to handle the installation of wiring, electrical outlets, and any other necessities such as additional switches and hanging light fixtures. If needed, an electrician can add another circuit to your breaker panel as well.
Your heating and cooling needs
If you want your new remodel to have climate control, the best way to do this, both from an efficiency and a cost-effectiveness standpoint, is to have your home’s existing ductwork extended into your new living space. If this is an impossibility, you can always install a ductless system, use air conditioning units designed to fit in the windows, or baseboard heating. For a luxuriant touch, consider radiant floor heating as well.
Meanwhile, making your new living space warm and inviting is all about updating the look and feel. Make sure you’ve got lots of windows for natural light, replace any garage doors that need it, and update the décor to make it seamless with the rest of your home. Between warm lighting, a new coat of paint or some elegant wallpaper, and some corresponding bedding and window treatments will transform the new space into something special.
Does your garage door need to be replaced?
You’re going to need to ensure that your garage door is both secure and well insulated. If you need a new one, the variety of residential garage doors that A‑1 Overhead Door Systems. has are perfect for garage remodels. You can even get a free quote to see how we can help you.
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